HousingPermits

Metro area in Pennsylvania · part of the Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, PA combined area

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA

The Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area authorized 1,201 new housing units in 2025. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2022, with 2,711 units; 2025 came to 44% of that. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 2.9 units a year in 2021–2025, 63% of the national rate of 4.7.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 2,398 units (2,306 single-family, 81 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,704 units (2,328 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 331 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,030 units (1,886 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,229 units (2,030 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,864 units (1,472 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 348 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,522 units (1,199 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,612 units (1,315 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,113 units (952 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 145 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,916 units (1,215 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 675 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,667 units (1,331 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 320 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,602 units (1,201 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 397 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,615 units (1,195 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 405 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,627 units (1,239 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 363 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,564 units (1,270 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,013 units (1,344 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 602 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,018 units (1,154 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 738 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,460 units (1,160 single-family, 88 in 2–4 unit, 212 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,542 units (1,283 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 189 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,711 units (1,820 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 872 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,864 units (1,213 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 581 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,643 units (1,123 single-family, 57 in 2–4 unit, 463 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,201 units (899 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 237 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252022 high · 2,7112011 low · 1,11301,0002,0003,0002004: 2,398 units (2,306 single-family, 81 in 2–4 unit, 11 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,704 units (2,328 single-family, 45 in 2–4 unit, 331 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,030 units (1,886 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 120 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,229 units (2,030 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 176 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,864 units (1,472 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 348 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,522 units (1,199 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,612 units (1,315 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,113 units (952 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 145 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 1,916 units (1,215 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 675 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 1,667 units (1,331 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 320 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 1,602 units (1,201 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 397 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 1,615 units (1,195 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 405 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,627 units (1,239 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 363 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,564 units (1,270 single-family, 56 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 2,013 units (1,344 single-family, 67 in 2–4 unit, 602 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 2,018 units (1,154 single-family, 126 in 2–4 unit, 738 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,460 units (1,160 single-family, 88 in 2–4 unit, 212 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,542 units (1,283 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 189 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 2,711 units (1,820 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 872 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,864 units (1,213 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 581 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,643 units (1,123 single-family, 57 in 2–4 unit, 463 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,201 units (899 single-family, 65 in 2–4 unit, 237 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252022 high · 2,711

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its population grew 4.2% between 2020 and 2025, the fastest growth among the 32 metro areas based in the Middle Atlantic states.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 19 other metro areas, among them Akron, Winston, Salem. Annual permits fell from 2,704 during the mid-2000s boom to 1,113 in 2011, a drop of 59%. The nearest bust profile in the Middle Atlantic states was Watertown's (58%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,792 units a year is 25% below the 2004–2006 pace. From 2024 to 2025 the count fell 27%.

Where in the metro

Cumberland County accounted for 59% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Dauphin County for 35%.

  • Cumberland County59% (745 in 2025)
  • Dauphin County35% (329 in 2025)
  • Perry County6.2% (127 in 2025)

The wider Harrisburg-York-Lebanon region

The Census Bureau groups Harrisburg with 3 neighboring metro areas in the Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, PA combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 3,955 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Harrisburg accounted for 45%. The others, with their yearly averages: York (1,354), Gettysburg (410), Lebanon (399).

Houses or apartments

In Harrisburg, 71% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 26% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Coeur d'Alene (26% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 6.5%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (872), single-family houses in 2005 (2,328).

2021–202570.7%71%3.1%26.1%26%2004–200691.4%91%2.1%6.5%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202570.7%71%3.1%26.1%26%2004–200691.4%91%2.1%6.5%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 65 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Susquehanna township, with 876 units or 9.8% of the total, followed by Hampden township with 703. Among the three largest, Hampden township put 52% of its units in five-plus buildings, Lower Paxton township 3.8%.

  • Susquehanna township9.8% (876 units)
  • Hampden township7.8% (703 units)
  • Lower Paxton township7.7% (689 units)
  • South Middleton township7% (628 units)
  • Silver Spring township7% (626 units)
  • Upper Allen township6.3% (568 units)
  • Perry County Part (unincorporated)5.2% (464 units)
  • Lower Allen township4.3% (382 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC6,1009.443%
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR8,96112.922%
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA1,2012.926%
Jackson, MS1,5682.22.9%
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA3,1726.244%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Harrisburg beside Fayetteville, AR

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Pennsylvania. Counting rules.